Belmont Public Schools News

Chenery Principal Michael McAllister, formerly the Butler principal, presented the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon award to the Butler community at a school assembly held on November 23. McAllister travelled to Washington, D.C. to represent Butler and received the award at a formal presentation held there on November 8.

Butler was recently named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary High Performance. It is one among 279 public and 50 private schools receiving this honor, and is one of three schools recognized in Massachusetts for this honor.

Butler Principal Danielle Betancourt welcomed the audience filled with students, staff, school and local officials, “We are here today to show our gratitude to all of the people who make this school so unique and wonderful,” says Betancourt. “I am honored and privileged to be able to work with all of you, and I applaud what you have done and continue to do for our children every day; this is truly a phenomenal community.”

McAllister greeted the students as he had while being principal there, “I haven’t said this in a long time; Good Morning Butler School”. The students responded with an enthusiastic, “Good Morning, Mr. McAllister”. He presented a plague, a banner, and a flag, and read congratulatory letters given to the school from U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr., and U.S. President Barack Obama. He then called up Custodian Robert Johnson, saying he had a job for him to do—to hang up the banner and flag for the Butler community. The two unfolded the flag and showed it to the applauding crowd.

Superintendent John Phelan congratulated the students and staff and thanked teachers for “all the hard work that happens over time”. Other speakers included Butler parent, former student and current Grade One Teacher Jennifer Pressey, and PTA President and Butler parent Rola Baghdady.